十年 time jump and a whole lotta hype later Daredevil is officially back in action! Charlie Cox has donned the mask once again for Disney+'s Daredevil: Born Again and the first two episodes just dropped. And let me tell you the internet is BUZZING. From shocking twists to brutal fights and some seriously divided opinions it looks like Hell's Kitchen is about to get even hotter.
Did They Really Kill Off Foggy?! Fans Are Losing It Over THAT Shocking Premiere Twist
Okay let's get straight to the elephant in the room or should we say the body in Josie's Bar? Right from the get-go Daredevil: Born Again throws a punch to the gut by seemingly killing off Foggy Nelson. Yes Matt Murdock's best pal and partner in law and crime-fighting appears to bite the dust thanks to a brutal attack by Bullseye.
Fans are understandably reeling. Foggy's "death" is the huge event that kicks off the entire series sending Karen Page running and making Matt hang up his Daredevil suit for over a year. But is he really gone? Some fans are not so sure. There's a theory floating around that Foggy's demise might be a fake-out .
Why the doubt? Well some eagle-eyed viewers spotted an interesting detail: Nelson Murdock and Page's law firm address number 468. Turns out Daredevil comic issue #468 titled "The Secret Life of Foggy Nelson" features Foggy faking his own death! Coincidence? Maybe. Hopeful thinking? Definitely! Gizmodo even delved into this Easter egg suggesting it could be a clever hint. We'll have to wait and see if Foggy pulls a Lazarus but for now consider our hearts officially broken.
Kingpin's Back and He's Running for Mayor?! Fisk's Power Play Takes Center Stage
Of course Daredevil wouldn't be Daredevil without his arch-nemesis Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin. Vincent D'Onofrio is back and his Kingpin is even more menacing this time around. Forget back alley brawls Fisk has gone legit or at least he's trying to. He's running for mayor of New York City and his slogan is chillingly catchy: "Fisk can fix it."
NBC News points out that Fisk is portrayed as savvier than ever reinventing himself and appealing to the city's desire for order. But underneath that polished mayoral candidate persona Kingpin's agenda is as dark as ever. D'Onofrio himself explained that Fisk truly believes he loves New York and thinks he is the one to fix it – but his methods and his ultimate goals are definitely not for the city's benefit. Prepare for a political power struggle with Daredevil caught right in the middle.
Meet White Tiger: A Groundbreaking Latino Hero Joins the MCU
Daredevil: Born Again is also introducing a significant new character to the MCU: White Tiger. Played by the late Kamar de los Reyes White Tiger aka Hector Ayala is a Latino hero with a powerful amulet and a tragic backstory.
NBC News highlights White Tiger's comic book origins created way back in 1975 by Bill Mantlo and George Pérez. Charlie Cox himself is excited about this addition saying he was drawn to the "trial of White Tiger" storyline in the comics. The show seems to be drawing inspiration from this arc with White Tiger being framed for murder in the early episodes.
Sadly Kamar de los Reyes passed away before the series release making his performance even more poignant. Cox praised de los Reyes' portrayal emphasizing the "humanity" and "culture" he brought to the role. Comic book scholar Frederick Luis Aldama explained that White Tiger was a landmark character for Latino representation in Marvel moving away from stereotypes and embracing complexity. White Tiger's presence in Born Again is a welcome and important addition to the MCU.
First Reviews Are In: Is Daredevil: Born Again a Hit or Miss? Critics Are Divided!
So what are critics saying about Daredevil: Born Again? The first reviews are rolling in and it's a bit of a mixed bag. Rotten Tomatoes rounded up initial reactions and while many reviewers are happy to see Daredevil back there is not a complete consensus on whether this revival lives up to the hype.
The Good:
- Faithful Return: Many critics like Tessa Smith from Mama's Geeky say it is "exactly what fans have been wanting" feeling like "coming home" according to Slant Magazine.
- Brutal and Bloody Action: Fans worried about Disney-fying Daredevil can relax. Reviews from Empire Magazine and ComicBookMovie.com highlight the "bone-breakingly brutal and bloody" fight scenes with "top-tier" choreography.
- Strong Performances: Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio are getting major praise. ComicBookMovie.com calls Cox's performance his "finest hour yet" while Daily Telegraph praises his "everyman" portrayal. D'Onofrio's Kingpin is described as "masterwork" and "terrifying".
- Character-Driven Story: Emmanuel Noisette from The Movie Blog praises the show for being "gritty violent and character-driven" calling it "exactly the kind of storytelling the MCU has been missing."
The Mixed:
- Pacing and Plot Issues: Some reviews like the one from New York Magazine/Vulture criticize the show's pacing calling it "herky-jerky" and "incoherent". The Daily Beast mentions "dull" subplots and a "cliffhanger that teases a more fulfilling battle to come fails to excite."
- Action Inconsistency: While some praise the fights other reviews from USA Today and ComicBook.com find the action "inconsistent" or "not that great" and "nowhere as interesting as the original".
- Fidelity vs. Creativity: USA Today suggests it "looks and smells the same as the old Daredevil" but "doesn’t feel quite as ambitious and exciting." The Hollywood Reporter echoes this saying while "satisfying at its best" it also feels "trapped in amber."
Overall it seems Daredevil: Born Again delivers on the grit and character work fans loved about the Netflix series and even amps up the violence. However some critics point to pacing and plot issues suggesting it may not reach the heights of its predecessor. But hey it's only the first two episodes! Plenty of time for Born Again to find its footing and truly shine.
What Critics Are Saying - Daredevil: Born Again Review Highlights:
- "Exactly what fans have been wanting and it is well worth the wait." - Mama's Geeky
- "Easily the MCU’s darkest and most twisted adventure… Its best yet!" - ComicBookMovie.com
- "Fight scenes in Daredevil: Born Again are brutal in the best way possible. Every punch lands with weight every battle feels earned and the choreography is top-tier." - The Movie Blog
- "Charlie Cox is again impressive in a low-key everyman kind of way." - Daily Telegraph
- "[Vincent D’Onofrio] is the main reason to watch... balancing gentility with explosive rage." - Salon.com
- "While it looks and smells the same as the old Daredevil it doesn’t feel quite as ambitious and exciting." - USA Today (Mixed)
- "The action’s not that great… The fights in Born Again are very inconsistent." - ComicBook.com (Mixed)
- "Born Again also does a vastly better job than most recent MCU properties of connecting with other parts of that universe." - Slant Magazine
Is Daredevil: Born Again Worth Watching? Early Verdict is Promising But Proceed with Caution
So should you dive into Daredevil: Born Again? Based on early reviews it sounds like a solid return for the Man Without Fear especially if you loved the Netflix series. Expect brutal action strong performances from Cox and D'Onofrio and a darker grittier tone than much of the MCU.
However be aware that some critics mention pacing issues and inconsistent action sequences. It may not be a perfect home run right out of the gate but Born Again definitely has potential and for many fans it's already hitting the spot. If you're craving a more mature and grounded Marvel series this might just be what you've been waiting for. Just maybe keep those tissues handy for Foggy... just in case.